GE Evolution Series

"GEVO" redirects here. For the engine that powers the Evolution Series locomotives, see List of GE engines. For the chemical company, see Gevo, Inc.

GE Evolution Series
A Norfolk Southern ET44AC No. 3622 with an ES44DC No. 7589. The different sized radiators help distinguish the models.
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderGeneral Electric Transportation
Build date2003–present
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C (ES40DC, ES44DC,[1] ES44AC,[2] ES58ACi, ES59ACi)
A1A-A1A (ES44C4[3])
 • UICCo′Co′ (ES30ACi, ES40DC, ES44DC, ES44AC, ES44DCi, ES44ACi, ES58ACi, ES59ACi, ET44AC), (A1A)(A1A) (ES44C4, ET44C4)
 • CommonwealthCo-Co (ES30ACi, ES40DC, ES44DC, ES44AC, ES44DCi, ES44ACi, ES58ACi, ES59ACi, ET44AC), A1A-A1A (ES44C4, ET44C4)
Gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) Kazakhstan
5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Brazil
5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) India
Length73 ft 2 in (22.30 m) (ES44AC/DC/C4) 74 ft 6 in (22.71 m) (ET44AC/AH/C4)
Fuel capacity5,000 US gal (19,000 L; 4,200 imp gal) (ES40DC, ES44DC, ES44AC, ES44C4)
Prime moverGEVO
Engine typeV12 (ES30ACi, ES40DC, ES44DC,[1] ES44AC,[2] ES44C4[3])
V16 (ES58ACi, ES59ACi)
4-stroke diesel engine
Cylinders12 (ES40DC, ES44DC,[1] ES44AC,[2] ES44C4[3])
16 (ES58ACi, ES59ACi)
Performance figures
Maximum speedDesign: 70 mph (113 km/h), 75 mph (121 km/h) for C4 Models
Power output3,200 hp (2.4 MW) (ES30ACi)
4,000 hp (3.0 MW) (ES40DC)
4,400 hp (3.3 MW) (ES44DC, ES44AC, ES44C4, ET44AC, ET44AH, ET44C4)
6,200 hp (4.6 MW) (ES58ACi, ES59ACi)
Tractive effort:
​
 • Starting183,000 lbf (810 kN) (ES44AC)
200,000 lbf (890 kN) (ET44AC)
144,000 lbf (640 kN) (ES44C4, ET44C4)
 • Continuous166,000 lbf (740 kN) (ES44AC, ET44AC)
105,000 lbf (470 kN) (ES44C4, ET44C4)
Career
OperatorsUP, BNSF, CSX, NS, CN, CPKC, GECX, FXE, IAIS, SVTX, CREX, FEC
DispositionMost were still in service in 2019 (The only ones retired have been involved in wrecks)

The Evolution Series is a line of diesel locomotives built by GE Transportation Systems (now owned by Wabtec), initially designed to meet the U.S. EPA's Tier 2 locomotive emissions standards that took effect in 2005. The line is the direct successor to the GE Dash 9 Series. The first pre-production units were built in 2003. Evolution Series locomotives are equipped with either AC or DC traction motors, depending on the customer's preference. All are powered by the GE GEVO engine.[4]

The Evolution Series was named as one of the "10 Locomotives That Changed Railroading" by Trains Magazine and was the only locomotive series introduced after 1972 to be included in that list.[5]

The Evolution Series locomotives are some of the best-selling and most successful freight locomotives in United States history.

These locomotives are equipped with Nathan Airchime K5HL horns, with the reversed 2 configuration, making a K5HLR2. The horns are mounted backwards with the 2 bell only facing forward and the 4 bells facing back. All of the locomotives use these horns, except for the ET23DCM and international locomotives.

  1. ^ a b c ES44DC Datasheet Archived 26 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine, The Diesel Shop
  2. ^ a b c ES44AC Datasheet Archived 24 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Diesel Shop
  3. ^ a b c ES44C4 Datasheet Archived 16 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Diesel Shop
  4. ^ "Evolution | GE Transportation". Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  5. ^ Lustig, David (2010). "10 Locomotives That Changed Railroading". Trains.